Fixing it, not replacing it: Hungary adopts the EU's "right to repair" rules

What is changing?

The decree transposes EU Directive (EU) 2024/1799 on common rules promoting the repair of goods into Hungarian law. Its objective is to encourage more sustainable consumption by promoting repair over replacement, thereby reducing resource consumption and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing new products. Importantly, the obligation to promote repair is not confined to cases involving defective performance – it applies more broadly, so that products which can still be salvaged remain in use.

The core obligation: repair beyond the warranty

Under the new rules, manufacturers of products subject to the EU's repairability requirements must repair the goods at the consumer's request. Such obligation applies to defects falling outside the ordinary defective performance rules, and its duration is tied to how long the applicable EU repairability requirement remains in force for that product category. Repairs must be carried out free of charge or for a reasonable fee, within a reasonable time after the manufacturer takes possession of, or is given access to, the goods. Where a manufacturer is not established in the EU, the obligation passes down the supply chain: first to its authorised representative, then to the importer and, finally, to the distributor. The obligation ceases only where repair is impossible, in which case the manufacturer may instead offer a refurbished product.

This obligation is not universal: it only applies to the product categories that a separate ministerial decree designates as subject to the EU’s repairability requirements. Categories expected to be covered include smartphones, mobile phones and tablets, servers and data storage products, major household appliances (washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators), electronic displays, vacuum cleaners, batteries and space heaters. In practice, this makes intuitive sense for something like a smartphone, but not for a milk frother or for the low-cost gadgets ordered from marketplaces such as Temu, Allegro or Shein, since most such items fall outside these categories altogether.

Spare parts, pricing and the prohibition of repair barriers

Manufacturers – or, where the manufacturer has no EU establishment, whichever party stands in its place in the chain described above – must make spare parts and accessories available for repairable products at a reasonable price that does not discourage consumers from choosing repair, and they must publish their repair pricing on a freely accessible website. Equally importantly, manufacturers may not rely on contractual terms, hardware or software to obstruct repair – including repair carried out by independent repair services using original, used, compatible or 3D-printed spare parts – unless there is an objective justification. Consumers also remain free to use a repairer other than the manufacturer, and a manufacturer cannot refuse to honour its repair obligation merely because the product was previously serviced by someone else.

A longer warranty incentive and a new information tool

To further tilt consumer choice toward repair, where a defect is remedied by repair rather than replacement, the two-year statutory warranty period is extended by an additional twelve months. Businesses providing repair services may also choose to use a standardised "European repair information form", disclosing costs, timelines, the availability of a temporary replacement product, and other key terms before the repair contract is concluded. Correct use of the form satisfies certain pre-contractual information duties toward consumers.

Practical challenges on the ground

The rules look coherent on paper, but several practical questions are likely to surface once repair requests start flowing in. One is capacity: whether authorised repairers and retail service points – including high-footfall consumer electronics stores – will have enough qualified technicians to carry out repairs within a “reasonable time”, particularly during peak periods.

Another is the threshold for what triggers the obligation. The legislation does not draw a clear line as to how minor a defect, wear mark or cosmetic blemish can be and still fall within the scope of the obligation. Store staff and manufacturers will need clear internal criteria to decide consistently when a scuffed casing or a small crack is covered and when it is not. Otherwise, inconsistent handling at the point of sale risks generating consumer complaints and disputes.

Timing and what businesses should do now

The decree enters into force on 31 August 2026, with the provisions establishing the European online repair platform and Hungary's national contact point (the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority) taking effect on 31 July 2027.

Companies that manufacture, import or distribute consumer goods in Hungary should begin reviewing their after-sales service models now: assess which product lines fall within scope, confirm spare-part availability and pricing, audit software or design features that could be seen as obstructing third-party repair, and prepare consumer-facing information – including possible use of the European repair information form – well ahead of the 2026 deadline. Non-compliance with key provisions will be enforced as a consumer protection matter under Hungary's unfair commercial practices regime.